Seed Banking

Seed banking is one form of conservation that occurs away from the plants' natural habitat; therefore, it is considered an ex-situ conservation method. While the best conservation method for rare plants is to protect their natural habitat (in-situ conservation); this method is sometimes not feasible or sufficient. Seed banks can reduce the probability of extinction, and preserve some of the genetic diversity of natural populations. Stored seed can be used to reintroduce plants to an area where they used to occur, as well as augment existing populations that are threatened with extinction.

Our seed bank currently holds seeds of our region's rarest plants. These seeds are held at low temperatures to maintain their viability over time. The seeds in our seed bank can be used for plant reintroductions in the wild as well as rare plant research.

Interested in volunteering with the seed bank? Volunteers help us maintain the seed bank for rare and endangered plants, update our seed bank database, and perform germination studies on stored seed. Volunteers also learn about threats to rare and endangered plants and how they are protected. Contact Rita Reisor for more information at 801-585-5853 or rita.reisor@redbutte.utah.edu